Lifeworks Staff
Lifeworks is proud to attract and recruit the best in our field. Our summer staff consists of avid world travelers, highly qualified professionals, and fun and experienced facilitators and educators. All members of our team are dynamic, multi-talented, and passionate individuals with a devotion and commitment to the safety and experience of our students.
The average age of our summer staff is 26. Staff skills are program specific, such as holding a maritime license in the BVIs or having a background in childcare for China. All staff are first aid and CPR certified, and many hold advanced training certificates such as Wilderness First Responder or EMT. Along with local guides and our community service partners, the ratio of staff to students is approximately 1:5. This enables close interaction and individualized attention during the program.
Home Office Administration
Hover over our staff members to reveal their bios
Mike joined the team in 1995 as a staff member for our Caribbean programs. Since that time, Mike has extended his participation into all aspects of the programs' operations. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Mike immigrated to the United States with his wife, Joanne, in 1996 to work full-time with the programs. Mike's passion for teaching traditional academics in an experiential way led to the development of our accredited college-level programs, Sea|mester, in 1998. Mike sails with our BVI programs during the summer and, throughout the rest of the year, he directs ActionQuest, Sea|mester, and Lifeworks, in addition to developing new programs and course curriculums.
Dan has been active in the field of experiential education since 2000. Since that time, Dan has facilitated hundreds of groups as an environmental educator, a wilderness trail guide, a high and low ropes challenge course facilitator, a youth-at-risk counselor, and, of course, as an international service-adventure guide for Lifeworks. Dan is a dedicated academic and holds his Masters in Experiential Education, and an avid traveler with countless stories from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Dan is responsible for the coordination of all operational aspects of our programs, and aims to deliver the very best experiences for Lifeworks students.
Jim began offering educational programs for youth as a young man himself. Initially oriented around the water, he applied his sailing skills while teaching and working with teenagers. In 1970 Jim became Captain and owner of the 156' schoolship Te Vega and enrolled 86 teenagers every year in a high school program of study and travel. After 12 years and 50,000 miles of cruising, Jim moved ashore to develop ActionQuest programs in 1986, Sea|mester in 1998, and Lifeworks in 2001. All offer quality educational and motivational programs for youth.
Travis joined our Caribbean programs in 1995 after graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with a degree in Marine Engineering. Always a sailor, Travis competed at both national and international levels, culminating in a bid for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team in 1996. In addition to coordinating our worldwide sailing and diving programs, Travis works extensively with Lifeworks providing support and coordination for operations during the summer time. Travis lives in Sarasota with his wife Laura and children Hannah and Luke.
Jenn was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. After attending Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Jenn moved back to Sarasota to join our Lifeworks staff team. Jenn takes care of our program preparation and enrollments along with much more. When she is not busy at work, Jenn spends her free time at the dog park with her pointer Roxy or in the kitchen coming up with some crazy concoction. Jenn is the one chatting away on Facebook so feel free to ask her any questions or just say hello!
Before the inception of Lifeworks, Jo joined ActionQuest in 1997 as a full-time office staff member and PADI dive instructor. She now works in the Sarasota office as Global Expeditions Group's Financial Officer. The rest of her time is devoted to raising sons Joshua and Kai. She has a Bachelor's degree in French from Southampton University, UK. Born in Jamaica and raised in Britain, Jo has traveled extensively, having lived and worked abroad in several countries. She has a passion for the arts and for working with Lifeworks to provide life-defining experiences for young adults.
As a teenager, Kate was on Lifeworks' sister program, ActionQuest, as a shipmate. She then signed aboard with Sea|mester for the maiden voyage. She has been a scuba instructor and skipper since 1999 and a Global Expedition's office team member since 2001. Since the start of Lifeworks, Kate has been an integral part of the student admissions process. What Kate loves most about the Lifeworks programs is that it's a chance to give back to the communities and locations that have hosted our other programs for years.
As a Business and History student at the University of Oregon, Kyle decided to study abroad his Junior year by attending a fall voyage with our sister program Sea|mester. Kyle attests that the experience was so life changing, that soon after graduating he made it his goal to return. In the summer of 2006, Kyle became part of the Global Expeditions team as an operational staff in the British Virgin Islands, while also working for our office in enrollment and marketing.
Summer Field Staff
Hover over our staff members to reveal their bios
Born and raised in Vermont, Torin's background is deep in snow sports. He spends winters coaching alpine ski racing part time and managing a family ski shop. After enrolling in Sea|mester in 2000 as a shipmate, Torin joined Lifeworks in 2003 as a skipper and now directs our British Virgin Islands program. Torin has a long background in community service starting alternative youth programs with the local recreation and parks department in his hometown, as well as recycling programs in the local elementary school.
Rowan joined Lifeworks in 2006. Rowan is a certified sea kayak guide and Wilderness First Responder and holds a Masters degree in Natural Resource Management. Rowan's love for travel and adventure have taken her to such far away places as the Himalayas of Nepal, the Mekong River of Laos, the mountains of South America's Patagonia, the cloud forest of Costa Rica, the nightlife of Cuba and the magical underworld of the Barrier Reef. Rowan always looks forward to sharing her love of adventure and learning with new program participants.
Devin is a passionate photographer, environmentalist, surfer, and friend. He has traveled the world studying, surfing, working, and doing community service. He always leaves each location with an understanding of a new culture and many new friends. From experiences at remote surf spots deep in Mexico, to entering disaster zones in the wake of Katrina, to exploring the beauty and power of Australia, to organizing charity races, to nights spent alone under the stars and the canopy of the jungle; Devin feels very lucky to have shared his experiences with the people he has met.
Wen was born in Taiwan and raised in Minneapolis. Wen graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature in 2006. During her undergraduate years, Wen developed a passion for travel. She found a life-changing connection to Tibet and its rich cultural heritage during this time, and now works alongside Tibetan exiles as a community organizer. She looks forward to introducing students to Dharamsala, a town which she has grown to love and now calls home.
Tamara became involved with Lifeworks as a high school student on our Thailand program. Her experience fueled her passion for exploring other cultures, which she is currently pursuing at American University in Washington, DC as an International Studies major. Tamara joined Lifeworks staff on our Costa Rica program in 2009, and has also worked in China and Thailand. Tamara enjoys studying foreign languages, outdoor activities, cooking, food and fashion, and spending time with friends and her family in Boston.
Hannah became involved with Lifeworks during the summer of 2009 when she participated as a student on our China program. This experience changed her outlook on life and increased her passion for making a positive impact on the world. Currently, she is a student at SUNY Geneseo majoring in Childhood/Special Education with a concentration in Women's Studies and a minor in Asian Studies. Hannah loves to dance, learn about new cultures, attend concerts, spend time with family and friends, and make s'mores over a country bonfire.
Tashi became a Tibetan Buddhist monk at the age of 9. He spent the earlier years of his life as a monk on the Gelugpa (yellow hat sect) of Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Tashi lived in Dharamsala for many years, before ultimately deciding to leave the monastery to pursue things that he dreamed to achieve in his life. Tashi is passionate about sharing his personal life as a Tibetan in exile. He currently lives in NYC and going to Brooklyn College to study film. Tashi's hobbies are biking, singing, and hip hop dancing. People say his momos (Tibetan dumplings) are irresistible.
Amy hails from Washington DC, but has called many places home, having lived and traveled in six continents. In high school, Amy volunteered in Namibia with the US Embassy, and was inspired by the young people she met there to pursue a career in positive youth development. She attended the College of William and Mary, where she worked in the Office of Community Engagement and coordinated enrichment programs for at-risk youth and people with disabilities. Amy hopes to help spark a passion in Lifeworkers for service and the world around them.
Erin was born and raised in Vermont. She has spent much of her time hiking, exploring, and studying the Green Mountain State. She graduated from UVM with a degree in Geography and Studio Art. She is very passionate about traveling, learning about cultures, sustainable practices, and green living. Her first trip abroad was an eco-tourism trip to Ecuador. She instantly fell in love with the beautiful landscape and people and this prompted a decision to move to South America a year later. She currently lives in Argentina, where she loves to laugh and is always willing to lend a helping hand.
Jason was raised in a small farming community in northern Wisconsin. He has been a member of the Boy Scouts since age 8 and continued participation as a summer camp counselor for 5 years. He has earned a B.S in Biology from Eau Claire, WI in 2009 and is currently working towards a Masters in Education Leadership from Mankato, MN. Jason is an outdoor enthusiast and loves to share his enjoyment through teaching. His employment has been diverse, comprising of group facilitation of low and high ropes courses, canoe guiding, Mountain Security Patroller, and Outdoor Education Specialist around the U.S.
Willem comes from the land of chocolate and waffles, i.e. Belgium. He has been lucky to have lived his life in a variety of countries, such as Tunisia, Burundi, Switzerland and Great Britain. His enjoyment of the outdoors came from years spent at the Scouts where he ended up leading 8-12 year olds away from their computers to explore the Belian countryside. In 2009, Willem finished his MA in Anthropology of Development and Social Transformation. He is now working for a NGO in Mexico in the field of sustainable technologies.
Stephanie has been collecting stamps in her passport almost non-stop since first falling in love abroad with the neotropical rainforest of Costa Rica. She's been working most recently as an environment educator way out in the rural villages of Senegal as part of her 27 months of service as a Peace Corps Volunteer. With a biology degree from Brandeis and work experience that covers turtle rescue, urban farming and scientific research, Stephanie is so excited to share all she can with the talented Lifeworks students she works with during the summertime.
Bio coming soon!
Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Kelly completed her undergraduate degree in the frigid North Country of Hanover, New Hampshire. Upon graduation she promptly moved to warm, sunny Southern California. She has lived in LA for the past six years, where she has worked as a writer and educator. Somewhere along the way she also managed to procure a Master of Professional Writing degree from USC. Kelly first joined Lifeworks in 2010 as a guide in Ecuador. She's recently completed the first draft of her first novel, but it does not weigh nearly as much as giant Galapagos tortoises.
Elliot was born in Southern California and has since lived in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida where he currently resides. Elliot is studying at New College of Florida and spent Spring 2011 with Lifeworks sister program, Sea|mester. He chose to work with Lifeworks after spending two summers in the British Virgin Islands with the program. Elliot loves traveling and meeting new people. He is ecstatic to find a profession that allows him to do both.
Michelle has been involved in the outdoors, leading and instructing people of all ages since 2001. She started off her career at an outdoor summer camp for kids and adults with illness, physical and mental disabilities. From there she continued her career in the outdoors working with youth on sail training trips, for various high school leadership programs involving hiking, kayaking and canoeing. Between working in the outdoors in her home country of Canada she has travelled through South East Asia, around North America, sailed through the South Pacific and lived and worked in New Zealand.
Robin believes one of the best ways to create a more positive, sustainable world is through developing leadership and cross cultural awareness in youth through service. Robin has traveled throughout much of Asia and Latin America studying language, art, music and culture, has coordinated more than 20 multicultural community festivals and facilitated hundreds of teambuilding initiatives and custom trips for schools, nonprofits and corporations. Robin holds a B.S in Parks, Recreation, Tourism Management and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration.
Tenzin was born in Tibet and left in 1997 to live in exile in India. He is now based in Dharamsala, India, where he works as a researcher for the Washington based nonprofit, International Campaign for Tibet and freelance translator. His research work involves monitoring the situation in Tibet through media reports and interviews with newly arrived Tibetan refugees. His credits as a translator include the book Witness to Tibet's History and parts of Unlocking Tibet. He also participated as a speaker in the conference Re-Imagining Tibet.
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